Page 12 (2/2)

"No," I said I pointed a finger at Stan "And if I wake up on a table being carved up like a Thanks-giving turkey again, I&039;ll kill you"

A chair scooted back and Linda popped up, her death stare aimed at me Her mouth opened, but before she could utter a word Patsy held up a hand

"Sit down and stick a cork in it" She pointed at Stan and Linda Stan looked embarrassed, but Linda&039;s expression was pure pissed-off They both sat down "Libby is our reluctant guest, and I don&039;t blaet poked and prodded

"Problem is, we drained Patrick dry as dust and refilled hi well, which means neither is Jess If Libby&039;s blood is poisonous to vaure out how to counteract it"

Murreement ruht be poisonous It was a terrible thing to know that trying toworse Ralph squeezed aze He was boyishly handsoth from him He s

"Libby, my name is Eva O&039;Halloran I&039;m the schoolteacher," said a soft female voice The woman was pretty, with dark hair and kind eyes She sat close to Lorcan, whose ararded me with suspicion

She asked, "Is your mother Theodora Maribelle Monroe?"

"Yes," I said "How did you know that?" My stomach clenched How did they know my parents? Were they in jeopardy?

"My husband and I run the library, too Is your mother the one rote Werewolves Are Real! "

Ah They knew Mom was an author I relaxed a little

"Yes, and she also wrote Vafoot Is Real! and so on," I said My mother owned and operated Liberty Press (yes, named after me, ack!), so she published her henever she liked She employed professional editors, printers, and cover artists Her books had even hit a few independent bookstores&039; bestseller lists She had a cult following in soet Aliens Are Real! " said Stan

"Ah," said Eva "I haven&039;t read that one" She turned to Patsy "Maybe we should invite Mr and Mrs Monroe to Broken Heart They may be a valuable resource"

"We&039;ve been coators to the town is unwise," advised Gabriel

No kidding I needed to know if ht and I desperately wanted to let them knoas okay, too

Patsy leaned toward Gabriel They had a whispered conversation Everyone else tried not to look at me I wanted to click my heels three times and wish myself out of here There&039;s no place like home, there&039;s no place like -

"Libby," Patsy finally said I looked up, ain

"Would you please consider giving the sa? The lives of our two friends may well depend on the results"

"I have a choice?" I asked suspiciously

She nodded

"And if I say no?"

"Then no one will touch you" She gave Stan a significant look He flinched Naturally, all eyes were drawn to ht of those stares I looked at Ralph, wishing I could to talk to him He really was my only ally; I wondered if he could beht I hile He wanted as best for ined he was thinking He kept a fir, and just knowing he was into be okay

"I hurt Patrick unintentionally," I said carefully "I didn&039;t think about my actions, and for that I&039;m sorry I don&039;t know if I am responsible for Patrick&039;s condition Iis hard to believe" I inhaled a deep breath and nearly squeezed Ralph&039;s hand right off "If the key to saving Patrick and Jessica is locked inside my DNA, then yes, I&039;ll submit to more tests"

Patsy sotten the teacher&039;s approval

"I have only two conditions," I said, regretting that my words ood side of the queen

"All right," said Patsy Her tone was cautious "What do you want?"

"I want to call ht"

Patsy nodded "I&039;ll allow it, but you can&039;t tell them about us And you have to make sure they don&039;t come to Broken Heart"

God What would they do if they knewaround? I didn&039;t want to think about it

"And the second condition?"

"I want an advocate Someone ill look out forthe testing"

"You&039;re telling us you want a lawyer?" drawled Patsy She was aht be funny to her, but she was sitting at the head of the table, loved, protected, and honored I was the bug crawling under everyone else&039;s raised shoes I knew very hat ht be once my usefulness had ended

"I don&039;t care what his or her profession is," I countered "I want soives a dah she&039;d been slapped, and I was glad I cast aze around the table "I&039;m not important to any of you I&039;m just aa nuisance Everyone here could swatfly and think no more about it"

"I see your point," said Patsy, her voice quieting the h we ed on yours I assure we have no intention of killing you"

I guess I should&039;ve felt relieved, but words were not actions I didn&039;t trust the in outsiders," she said "Is there no one here you would consider your advocate?"

My gaze went immediately to Ralph I wanted him to be my champion In so many ways, he already was I didn&039;t want to think of hi tihts Then he turned to Patsy and said, "I&039;ll do it I&039;ll be Libby&039;s advocate"